production
Skip to Content

DR252M: SAINTS, DEMONS AND THE DESERT: CHRISTIANITY ON THE EDGE (2021-2022)

Last modified: 31 May 2022 13:05


Course Overview

This course explores the experience of Christians living on the edge, in the desert, from the fourth century onwards. Drawing upon the imagery of the desert in the Old Testament, Christians in the early centuries lived in the world ‘as in a desert,’ with the spiritual athletes, the martyrs, fighting the beasts in the arena. With the rise of the Christian empire in the fourth century, many withdrew to the desert, where warfare continued, this time against the demons often visualized as beasts.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 2
Term Second Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Professor John Behr
  • Dr Marie-Luise Ehrenschwendtner

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
  • Programme Level 2

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This course explores the experience of Christians living on the edge, in the desert, from the fourth century onwards. Drawing upon the imagery of the desert in the Old Testament, Christians in the early centuries lived in the world ‘as in a desert,’ with the spiritual athletes, the martyrs, fighting the beasts in the arena. With the rise of the Christian empire in the fourth century, many withdrew to the desert, where warfare continued, this time against the demons often visualized as beasts. This course will examine the different ways in which ‘the desert’ was imagined through the ages, as the place of spiritual warfare and paradise regained. We will examine the various ways in which this spiritual warfare was enacted, the different ways in which ‘demons’ were understood, whether as malicious agents or hostile thoughts and temptations, and the diverse forms of sanctity that such struggles produced, from venerable monastics to stylites and cross-dressing female ascetics. The course will focus on primary texts, beginning with the Life of St Anthony and continuing with a variety of texts from different periods and contexts, together with consideration of the way in which these figures have appeared in subsequent literary and visual cultures. It will be delivered by way of lectures and seminars.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 40
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

In week 12. Feedback will be provided electronically. 

Word Count 2000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseReflect on their understanding of historical individuals and movements and their lasting importance
ConceptualApplyUnderstand and apply different historical methodologies.
ConceptualEvaluateIdentify and use different kinds of primary sources.
ConceptualEvaluateReflect on the differences between today’s issues and historical contributions .
FactualUnderstandKnowledge and a deepened understanding of ascetic Christian spirituality

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 60
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

In week 5. Feedback will be provided electronically in week 8.

Word Count 2500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseReflect on their understanding of historical individuals and movements and their lasting importance
ConceptualApplyUnderstand and apply different historical methodologies.
ConceptualEvaluateIdentify and use different kinds of primary sources.
ConceptualEvaluateReflect on the differences between today’s issues and historical contributions .
FactualUnderstandKnowledge and a deepened understanding of ascetic Christian spirituality

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Feedback will be provided electronically. 

Word Count 2500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualUnderstandKnowledge and a deepened understanding of ascetic Christian spirituality
ConceptualAnalyseReflect on their understanding of historical individuals and movements and their lasting importance
ConceptualEvaluateReflect on the differences between today’s issues and historical contributions .
ConceptualEvaluateIdentify and use different kinds of primary sources.
ConceptualApplyUnderstand and apply different historical methodologies.

Compatibility Mode

We have detected that you are have compatibility mode enabled or are using an old version of Internet Explorer. You either need to switch off compatibility mode for this site or upgrade your browser.